50 riels 1956
About This Note
A visually striking 1956 Cambodian 50 riels note in VF condition, featuring traditional Khmer artistic elements and architectural heritage. The obverse depicts a scenic waterway with traditional Cambodian boats and fishing scenes framed by ornate blue and gold decorative borders, while the reverse showcases the iconic Angkor Wat temple complex with its distinctive multi-tiered towers. The note exhibits natural aging appropriate to its vintage 1950s origin with minimal wear, strong color retention in the blue and brown palette, and no significant tears or creases.
Common. The 1956 Cambodian 50 riels (P-7b2) represents a standard circulation issue from the early independence period with substantial print runs. There is no evidence of restricted mintage, recall, or exceptional scarcity. Notes from this series appear regularly in the market and are readily available in various grades, indicating healthy supply relative to collector demand.
This 1956 issue represents the early monetary period of the Banque Nationale de Cambodge following Cambodia's independence from French Indochina in 1953. The choice of Angkor Wat as the reverse centerpiece reflects Cambodia's cultural nationalism and pride in its Khmer heritage during this formative post-colonial era. The bilingual French-Khmer inscriptions document the transitional period between French colonial administration and full Cambodian sovereignty, while the riverside fishing scenes on the obverse represent the agricultural and riverine traditions central to Cambodian life.
The obverse features a tranquil landscape composition depicting a Cambodian river or waterway scene with traditional wooden sailing boats engaged in fishing activities, set against a backdrop of mountains rendered in naturalistic detail. The composition is framed by an ornate cartouche with elaborate scrollwork borders incorporating floral and geometric motifs in blue and gold. The reverse prominently displays Angkor Wat, Cambodia's most sacred architectural monument, showing the characteristic five-tower silhouette of the central sanctuary complex with its distinctive multi-tiered pyramid form. Palm trees flank the temple, and a waterway (representing the temple's moat) appears in the foreground. Both sides feature scalloped corner panels with delicate floral ornamentation and precise guilloche patterns that serve both aesthetic and security purposes.
Front side: '៥០' (50 in Khmer numerals); 'ពលរដ្ឋកម្ពុជា' (Cambodian citizen/people); 'ឈានមុខគេ' (Leading/advancing forward); Serial numbers: 72481 (left side), 014272481 (center top), 72481 (right side). Back side: 'BANQUE NATIONALE DU CAMBODGE' / 'ធនាគារជាតិកម្ពុជា' (National Bank of Cambodia); '50' (denomination in numerals, both corners); 'CINQUANTE RIELS' / 'ហាសិបរៀល' (Fifty riels in French and Khmer).
Intaglio engraving (copperplate/steel engraving) combined with traditional lithographic color separation. The fine line work visible in the borders, the detailed modeling in the landscape and architectural elements, and the precision of the guilloche patterns are characteristic of high-quality intaglio production. This note was likely produced by a European security printer, possibly Banque de France's printing facilities or a contracted security printer specializing in colonial-era currency, as was common practice for newly independent Southeast Asian nations in the 1950s.
The specific variety designation 'P-7b2' indicates this is a variant within the 50 riels 1956 series. The serial number observed (72481/014272481) falls within the expected range for this issue. No overprints, signatures variations, or other distinguishing factors characteristic of known rare varieties are apparent in the visual analysis. This appears to be a standard printing variant without exceptional distinguishing features.
